Someone approached me a while back asking for opinions on their new baby ferret who kept biting them. They were thinking of returning it. Obviously this breaks my heart, so I'd love to offer what advice that I can!
First off I'd like to cover what happens to ferrets that get returned. Ferrets that get returned go straight into quarantine, which is not easy on a kit. The amount of time varies per store but its at least three or four days, in some places more. Being a social creature, it is not good for a kit to be alone with little interaction for so long. This can quickly turn a ferret anti-social, and that lowers its chance of being purchased again. Ferrets who grow out of their 'cute baby' faces are sent back to Marshalls where they are, because they can't be bred, euthanized. This is why I can't stress it enough, if you can't commit yourself to your pets, do not get a ferret! They are expensive impulse buys, and one you may regret if you come to find a ferret does not fit your lifestyle.
So back to the subject at hand, biting. If you're going to get a baby ferret, its going to mouth you. No matter where you get one, what color or gender, baby ferrets are going to nip to some extent. Some more than others, obviously. A baby ferret is not biting you because it hates you, unless you're roughing it up of course :P Puppies mouth you and chew, its no different with a kit. They have to be taught how to appropriately interact with you. It takes time and love, as with any pet. You get back what you put in.
Reasons your baby ferret might be biting you
Baby ferrets do not want to be coddled and loved on. If you're constantly picking up your kit to cuddle it and fuss it, its likely going to nip you. Baby ferrets have a hell of a lot of energy and they want to be down and playing, not held in your arms all the time. If you want a small animal to baby, don't get a ferret. A kit will be dancing circles around you, its amazing how much energy such a tiny animal can have!
Like any baby, give them something appropriate to chew on! Like puppies, ferrets use their teeth to check things out. They make chews just for ferrets. N-Bone Ferret Chews are fantastic for chewers!
Use common sense when you go to handle your ferret! A hand reaching at a kit can be a scary thing. Move slow, make sure your ferret knows your intentions. Don't reach out and snatch them up, that's asking for a nip. I advise against using your hands as toys when training a kit, as they're going to treat your hands like they would one of their kin. And that means some potentially hard bites. A teaser cat toy, the sticks with a feather or toy of some sort attached to the other end, are great games for a kit that both of you can safely play! Now while a baby ferret is incredibly cute when they're playing, it's a pretty stupid time to try and handle them. They're worked up, feisty and having fun. They might nip in play, and believe me, that hurts. Wait until he has calmed down after your game before handling him.
Don't crowd them! Like any new pet, give your new ferret time to settle in. If you have more than one ferret, this will usually happen quickly. But if you're getting just one ferret (another thing I advise against) you're going to have a scared kit. Suddenly they went from being in a litter of kits like them to all alone in this cage with no one there to cuddle with or play with. Just this strange human who keeps wanting to pick them up. Put yourself in their shoes!
Some say 'scruffing' your ferret to show your 'dominance' over it is a good way to 'put the kit in his place'. From what I've seen, this leads to a frustrated and pissed off kit. While it will stop the kit from biting in that moment, more often than not the instant you release his scruff he's going to bite you again. Scruffing should be reserved for emergencies, I only ever scruff my ferrets when they get something in their mouth that they shouldn't. Flicking the nose is also a recipe for a bite on the finger. I've never had to do any of this with my ferrets and they're docile enough to accompany me to stores and allow strangers to handle them. Earn your ferrets trust, don't force attention on them.
If your ferret does bite you do not strike the kit in any way. Not only are these incredibly delicate creatures, but that's not giving the kit any reason to trust your hands. If your hands bring pain and discomfort, they're probably going to bite again. Place the ferret back in his cage and wait for him to calm down. Biting means no fun and back to the boring ol' cage.
As for biting cords or toes, Grannick Bitter Apple Spray is a marvelous and safe solution. The dog version is harmless to ferrets but I've heard they now make one just for ferrets so that would probably work too. It smells very sharp and usually this is enough to make them think twice, but for those ferrets determined to get their teeth on those expensive computer cords, it also tastes disgusting. Do not under any circumstances spray this stuff in their mouths, in their faces or at them at all. Its a deterrent, not a punishment!
So is there any hope?
Do not give up on your kit! I have never met a vicious ferret, just ferrets who weren't socialized at a young age. I strongly suggest that first time ferret owners get an older ferret. Rescues are filled to the brim with ferrets who were given up because unsuspecting owners could not handle a rambunctious kit. Older ferrets are much more inclined to seek you out for attention, maybe a bit of cuddling and some lazy play. Usually they're also potty trained, which is a huge plus!
Bite training is an easy process for the right owners. Typically it takes me two weeks to bite train a new ferret, sometimes even less. Ferrets are intelligent animals and with the right people, very sweet and rewarding pets. :)
